By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed on Thursday the winners of the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
Bacolod election officer Ann Janette Lamban led the proclamation at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) at the Bacolod Government Center past 4 a.m.
Reelectionists lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, won the congressional, mayoralty, vice mayoralty races, respectively.
Gasataya had 135,346 votes against former mayor Monico Puentevella with 84,705 votes, and Dr. Kevin Moises with 3,751 votes.
Leonardia got 144,776 votes against former Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue with 81,248 votes, and broadcaster Ray Carmona with 1,762 votes.
Familiaran garnered 126,238 votes against former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson with 91,821 votes.
For the city council slate, Grupo Progreso (GP) under Leonardia dominated the slate with 11 members, seven of whom are reelectionists.
Councilor Cindy Rojas leads the slate with 135,011 votes, followed by incumbent Councilor Renecito Novero with 131,672 votes; neophyte Simple Distrito, 123,194; former councilors Carl Lopez, 119,883; Al Espino, 116,412; and Archie Baribar, 114,567; neophyte Israel Salanga, 114,300; incumbent Councilors Dindo Ramos, 108,218; Bart Orola, 106,353; Ana Marie Palermo, 105,683; Elmer Sy, 100,867; and Wilson Gamboa Jr., 87,301.
Gamboa, a non-GP member, in a press statement said, as a fiscalizer or the oppositionist, he will study and understand all the agenda and transaction of the city government of Bacolod and bring to scrutinizing public light these agenda and transactions that is clearly inimical and injurious to the city and to the people of Bacolod.
The pillars of democracy are the majority and the opposition (minority). Each plays a vital role. Thus the role of the fiscalizer or the oppositionist is as vital as the role of the majority, he said.
I will take stock myself to be very vigilant. That by doing so, the people of Bacolod and the rest of the world will know and hopefully seek redress in concrete terms and raise a public outcry for change.
Leonardia thanked their supporters for their unending support.
How we wish we had done it but were still happy and proud we almost made it. That is already something to relish, he said.
Despite failing to achieve a 15-0 win, Leonardia said it is still historic because they almost made it.
Meanwhile, Lamban said the election here was successful and peaceful as they have overcome the difficulties along the way especially with the canvassing of votes.
The proclamation of winners here was delayed after four secure device (SD) cards were corrupted.
She thanked everyone especially the teachers for their services rendered during the election day.
Meanwhile, Lamban reminded the winning candidates to file their Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (Soce) before they officially assume their new seats on June 30.
